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The Arlington Child Development Center is located at 1120 UTA Blvd. (Courtesy | Center for Transforming Lives, Jordan Moralez)<\/p>\nBilly Jackson\u2019s calling has always been social work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whether it was his time in the Navy or working at the Veteran Resources Center at Tarrant County College, the 47-year-old has always supported others \u2014 even before he started studying for his bachelor\u2019s degree this fall at the University of Texas at Arlington.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t choose social work. Social work chose me,\u201d Jackson said, evoking a personal mantra.<\/p>\n
At the start of the semester last year, Jackson was driving nearly an hour to drop off his child, Gabr\u2019el, with friends in northwest Tarrant County. For Jackson, the inconvenience was secondary \u2014 he was willing to make the drive for his child. But the Fort Worth resident was concerned about the development and socialization of his nearly 2-year-old son.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A month or two into school, Jackson discovered the Arlington Child Development Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just came over here to check and was blown away from the first moment I walked in,\u201d Jackson said of the facility at 1120 UTA Blvd.<\/p>\n
The Center for Transforming Lives and UT Arlington have worked together for nearly 30 years to ensure students have accessible on-campus childcare. Since the partnership\u2019s creation in 1998, 750 students have enrolled their children at the development center at little or no cost.<\/p>\n
The Arlington Child Development Center, deemed a \u201cperfect partnership\u201d by Center for Transforming Lives CEO Carol Klocek, is owned by the university but operated by the Tarrant County nonprofit.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt gives (students) so much more flexibility and increases the likelihood, as we\u2019ve seen, for them to successfully complete their degree program,\u201d Klocek said.<\/p>\n
Her praise is backed by numbers \u2014 since the program began, 95% of students receiving financial assistance toward childcare expenses through the center received their degrees, said John Hall, the university\u2019s vice president of administration and economic development.<\/p>\n
\u201cResults support the fact that this resource contributes to student success,\u201d Hall said in an email to the Arlington Report.<\/p>\n
Each semester, the development center offers 25 to 35 spots for UT Arlington students for low to no costs, with 10-15 spots available in the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Arlington Child Development Center is located at 1120 UTA Blvd. (Courtesy | Center for Transforming Lives, Jordan Moralez)<\/p>\n
The childcare center allows parents like Jackson to focus on schoolwork or potential jobs while still ensuring their kids are safe, Klocek said.<\/p>\n
The Arlington center has benefited university students in more ways than just via accessible childcare. Students from the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and School of Architecture have run lab projects at the center, Klocek said.<\/p>\n
For Jackson, the center has been \u201clife-changing,\u201d but not solely because Gabr\u2019el is safe and only a short walk away from Jackson\u2019s classes and his place of work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jackson\u2019s concern prior to enrolling his son with the center \u201cwas him being socialized, being able to play with others, learning how to share.\u201d<\/p>\n
A couple weeks into being enrolled at the center, those concerns were alleviated.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s learning to shine,\u201d Jackson said with a smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Early on in the university\u2019s partnership with the Center for Transforming Lives, the childcare center was located in a smaller facility on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really challenging physically to work in for the teachers,\u201d Klocek said.<\/p>\n
In 2012, the university and nonprofit opened the current location, where Center for Transforming Lives offers its Early Head Start and Head Start programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The expanded space \u201cprovided a more convenient and accessible location, as well as a much nicer learning environment\u201d for the kids of students, Hall said.<\/p>\n
Jackson has been impressed with the center in more ways than one \u2014 the curriculum, facility and staff have been incredible, he said.<\/p>\n
The center is even particularly convenient to Jackson \u2014 he works a few steps away at the adjacent Military and Veteran Services Center.<\/p>\n
The UT Arlington student is able to watch Gabr\u2019el play with other students while working from a bench at the veteran services center.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Jackson goes to pick up Gabr\u2019el, the young boy gives his dad a big hug, then proceeds to blow kisses to the teachers of the center before saying bye.<\/p>\n
For Jackson, the center\u2019s role in enriching and helping his son grow and thrive is invaluable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see him experiencing his moments of curiosity, you can\u2019t help but to smile,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ismael M. Belkoura is the nonprofit editor for the Fort Worth Report. His position is supported by a grant from North Texas Community Foundation. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n